UNICEF, Kebbi Launch Campaign To End Infant Mortality

The Kebbi State government in collaboration with UNICEF and other partners have launched a crucial campaign towards reducing preventable newborn deaths in the State.

Recently, Dr Zainab Atiku Bagudu, wife of Kebbi State governorlaunched the ‘Every Child Alive’ campaign to reaffirm the state’s commitment to end preventable newborn deaths and extend affordable, quality healthcare to every mother and child.

By launching the Every Child Alive campaign, Kebbi State joined UNICEF and partners and committed to delivering solutions of keeping every child alive by recruiting, training, retaining and managing sufficient numbers of doctors, nurses and midwives with expertise in maternal and newborn care,making it a priority to provide every mother and baby with the life-saving drugs and equipment needed for a healthy start in life.

According to both parties,the commitment was critical as many babies born in Kebbi State do not survive their first month of life as many of them die on the day they are born. The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey conducted by the government of Nigeria in 2016/17, indicates that newborn deaths per 1000 births is 55 in the state -drastically higher than the national average of 37 deaths per 1000 births.

According to Sanjana Bhardwaj ,UNICEF Chief of Health, many of the newborn deaths can be prevented with access to well-trained midwives during antenatal and postnatal visits, as well as delivery at a health facility, along with proven solutions like clean water, handwashing, disinfectants, breastfeeding within the first hour, skin-to-skin contact, proper cord care, and good nutrition.

Last week, the State Ministry of Health, State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Nigerian Society For Neonatal Medicine (NISONM),UNICEF and partners concluded a 3-day training on essential newborn care in Kebbi State on June 27.The course sought to improve the capacity of community health extension workers to ensure newborn babies receive critical quality care at birh by skilled pair of hands in safe environment.